Implement power lift and postion control



Feb. 24, 1953 J. H. BOLL ETAL 2,629,307

IMPLEMENT POWER LIFT AND POSITION CONTROL Filed NOV. 23, 1951 2 SHEETS SHEET l 1953 J. H. BOLL ET AL ,307

IMPLEMENT POWER LIFT AND POSITION CONTROL Filed Nov. 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 JNVENTORQ- JOHN M. 3044 var/we v. RAUGH? ATTORIVE') Patented Feb. 24, 1953 John H. Bell, :Dearborn, and Arthur v. Raught, Birmingham, Mich, assignors to Dear'born Motors Corporation, Birmingham, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application November. 23, 1951, Serial No. 257 780 1 Claim.

This invention relates to apower lift for implements and particularly to a lift for power raising-a front mounted cultivator.

Cultivators are usually mounted on the front end of a tractor primarily because of better operatorvisibility which permits the operator'to more easilyguide the-tractor andatthe same time ohservethe-proximityof thecultivating tools to the crops being cultivated. It is also desirable that the front mounted cultivator be power lifted inasmuch as the implement is relatively heavy. Another important desi-deratumis to-ra-ise the cultivator gangs to a transporting height and to have such gangs return to the same height regardless of theworking depth setting of the earth working tools.

Hence a power-operated lift for front mounted tractor cultivators should permit the operator to rapidly raise the implement when conditions may so require, such as when reaching the end of the rows, crossing a grassed waterway or upon observing an obstruction in the path of the tractor. Not only should the powerjlift provide for rapid raising of the cultivating implement hutal's'o selective working depth of the cuuiv ung gangs should becon'veniently obtainable. Thusthe cultivating implementwouldbe more versatile permitting its use in different types of crops and for operation in various soil conditions which may require working at variousdepths".

In contour cultivatingparticularly, it is frequently' desirable that the cultivating implement mountedon the front of the tractor Joe split into right and Ieftihand gangs so that such gangs may be selectively raised or lowered to permit working out pointrow's as'in contour planted crops. Without such a feature large portions of intersecting rows would be removed by the lowered cultivator gauge on" one side. In addition, it is frequently desirable that one or the other front gang .be in a raised, inoperative position as when cultivating crops along a road or irrigation ditch. At still other times it is desirable to be able to operate the hydraulic rock shaftof the tractor without affecting the position of the front cultivator gangs. Y

A particular object of this invention is to provide a power lift on a tractor provided with a power actuated rock shaftlocated in close proximity to the operator which is directly operated by the rock shaft for power lifting front mounted implements.

Another object of this invention istto'provide an improved implement lift for a tractor front mountedimnlement which is operated by the tractor power for powerlift n 0f the impl ment. manually operated adjusting mechanism being provided for selective depth adjustment of the earth working elements of the implement.

:Still anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved lifting mechanism for front mounted implements on a tractor having power lifted trailing hitch links characterized by the fact that lifting mechanism may ,be adjusted-toproduce lifting movement of the trailing hitch links without effect upon the vertical position-of the front mounted implement.

A further object of thisrinventionis to provide an implement power lift for a tractor having power lifted rock arms which are conveniently utilized to power the improved lift for-selectively raisingor lowering the implement.

' Still another object of this invention is topro vide an improved power lift for a tractor which will raise the cultivatin gangs to the same maximumiheight for transport purposes regardless of their-working depth setting.

The specific nature of this invention, as-well as other objects and advantages thereof, will he come apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, takeniiicon junction with the two sheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred-example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation'al view of a tractor showing the improved power lift of this inven tionlmounted on the tractor illustrating theiinaxi mum and minimum height adjustment obtainable with this power lift;

Figure 2-is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the front mounted cultivatorgang maintainedin a raised position throughout the range of move ment ofthe tractor rock arms;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the power rotated quadrant utilized-for obtainingthe ,various height adjustments oftheimplement;

Figure 4 is a vsectional view taken along the. plane 4- 4 of Figure 3; i p i Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view similarlto Figure 3 showing the position of the" various ele mnts for holding the implement in the raised position shown in Figure 2; i

Figure Bisaview similar to Figure 5 but showing the position of the adjusting elements for lowering the implement to a ground working position; and Figure '7 is afragmenta'ry detail view of the tractor rear end showing the connection ofthef rear cultivating gang to the tractoi'rockarins.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 there is shown a tractor H] of a well-known type which has a pair of laterally spaced rock arms II respectively secured to the ends of a rock shaft l2 journaled on top of the transmission housing |3 of the tractor ID as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. This location is, of course, in close proximity to the operators seat (not shown). Rock shaft I2 is rotated by a bulit-in hydraulic mechanism, not shown. A pair of hitch links 9 are respectively secured at laterally spaced points 9a on the tractor differential housing 8. Hitch links-9 are respectively connected by links 1 to the ends of lift arms whereby such hitch links 9 are vertically lifted.

A rear cultivating gang (or any other appropriate implement) is mounted on hitch links 9. Such rear gang may comprise essentially a pair of longitudinal arm members 6 having their forward ends respectively suitably pivotally mount ed to the tractor rear axle housing 5. The-trailing ends of connecting members 6 are respectively flexibly secured by chains 6a to the ends of a transverse tubular bar 4 suitably mountedon the wardly projecting brackets M are suitably secured to the tractor front axle (not shown). Brackets I4 are transversely spaced and are re,- spectively disposed on opposite sides of the tractor radiator, as best shown in Figure 2. Brackets l4 transversely support a tool bar. [5 which is detachably-secured to arms l4 within suitable brackets i6 as byclamp members IT.

A pair of transversely spaced upstanding lugs |-8 are welded to the top of tool bar |5 and a pair of bell cranks |9 are respectively pivotally secured by bolts 20 to such upstanding arms. A pair of depending struts 2| .are respectively secured to the underside of brackets H5 in depending relationship and a pair of parallel links 22 are pivotally secured in vertically spaced relationship by bolts 22a .to the depending strut 2|.

The other ends of parallel links 22 are suitably pivotally secured to a vertical arm 23 which has horizontally welded to its lower end a cultivating tool supporting arm 24. The upper parallel link 22 is connected to the rearwardly disposed arm of bell crank I9 by a link 25. A similar linkage arrangement (not shown) isprovided on the other side of tractor I9. The forwardly disposed arm of bell crank I9 has a longitudinal link 26 connected to its end and link 26 extends rearwardly for connection to the power lift mechanism about to be described. As the tool bar mounting forms no part of this invention,

further description of such mounting is believed unnecessary. r

' The power lifting device 50 constructed in accordance with this invention may also be called a motion-translating device and comprises a plate-like quadrant 21 which is secured to one end of rock shaft l2. The connection of quadrant 21to the end of rock shaft 2 is effected by a substantially rectangular plate 28 vertically seandto the vertex of quadrant '21. A reinforcing bar 30 is welded at its upper end to the rear edge of quadrant?! and at its lower end is secured to the free end of rock arm I by a transverse bolt 30a, hence rotation of rock shaft |2 effects rotation of quadrant 21.

Somewhat above the vertex of quadrant 21 a link positioning lever 3| is pivotally secured to quadrant 21 by a bolt or pin 3 la. A plurality of evenly spaced notches 21a are provided on the peripheral edge of quadrant 21 adjacent the rearmost end of the quadrant and such notches are selectively engageable by a detent 32 carried by lever 3| to secure lever 3| in any one of a plurality ofpositions for a purpose to be later explained. A single notch 210 is provided substantially forwardly of the series of notches 21a for a purpose to be later explained. Detent 32 is a rod-like memberand is vertically supported in a pair of longitudinally spaced apertured lugs 3|b welded to the face of lever 3| as best shown in Figure 4. The upper end of detent 32 is outwardly bent as shown 'at 3241 and underlies an outwardly bent end portion 3|c of lever 3| where it may be conveniently grasped by the tractor operator to raise the lower end portion 32b of detent 32 out of engagement with one of the notches 21a. The lower end of detent 32 is oppositely bent to that of the end 32a so that such bent end will conveniently traverse the notched peripheral edge of quadrant 21. A spring 33 having one of its ends abutting the lower lug 3|b of lever 3| and its other end abutting a suitable stop 320 provided on detent 32 biases the lower bent end portion 32b of detent into engagement with aselected notch 21a. A clip-like element 34 is welded to the back of lever 3|, as shown in Figure 4, and such element overlies the upper peripheral edge of quadrant 21 to slidably engage the back surface of quadrant'Zl to support the upper. end of lever 3| relative to quadrant 21. A suitable slot 34a is provided in clip 34 to permit vertical movement'of the bent end 32b of detent 32. It should also be mentioned here that lever 3| has a vertical slot 3|d substantially opposite the notches 21a of quadrant 2! to permit vertical movement of end 32a in such lever.

Link positioning lever 3| has an arm or second.

angles and such trailing end is inserted through V the point of intersection of the slots 35a and 21b and such projecting end is suitably. secured within such slots to prevent displacement therefrom. The appended drawings show but one power lift adjusting device attached to one side of the tractor. An identical power lifting device 50 is secured to the other end of the rock shaft l2 for power lifting of the left hand implement gang (not shown) also mounted on the front end of the tractor.

' Operation 1 V .1 In Figure 2, levers 3| and 35 are adjusted to the i position where movement of rock arm II will produce no appreciable vertical adjustment of the vertical tool support 23. For obtaining this setting of the power lifting device, the lever 31 is manually rotated until the detent 32 can be en-- gaged with the forward notch Zlc. Referring now to Figure 5, it will be noted that the slot 35d of lever 35 intersects slot 2% at the point A, and link 2s will be moved to the lower end of slot 2%. Assume also that the rock arm II is also in its lowermost angular position of vertical adjustment. Now when rock arm I I is rotated through its maximum angular rotation, the quadrant 2? being af ixed to such rock arm will rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5 with such rock arm. Obviously, lever 3| and 35 being secured to quadrant 21 are likewise rotated the same angular extent as rock arms and quadrant 27; hence crank arm 35 will carry with it the end of link 2b. As quadrant 27 rotates, slot 271) 1 will assume a substantially vertical position at 1 the end of the angular movement of quadrant 2'1 and the point of intersection A of slots 2??) ant ward linear movement of link is permitted when the lever arms 3| and are positioned as shown in Figures 2 and 5 as the path of movement of the point A is substantially equidistant from hell crank I9. Obviously, due to the arcuate path described about the center of rock shaft l2, a slight forward movement of link 26 will be evident but as rock arm I I reaches its uppermost position, link 25 will have been moved rearwardly slightly to substantially the same position prior to raising of the rock arms I I. be no appreciable movement of hell crank 18, and the tool support arm 23 will be maintained in a raised position.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 6, the adjusting levers 3| and 35 are shown in a rearward position with detent 32 engaging one of the notches 21a wh ch are substantially angularly disposed from the forward notch 210. In this position the end of link 25 is moved to the upper end of slot 271; in cuadrant 21. vertical when rock arm I l is rotated to its lowermost position. The full lines in Figure 1 indicate such positioning of the various elements of the power lifting device and also in more detail in Figures 3 and 6. When the rock arm I I is raised, the quadrant 21 will again be rotated in a clock wise direction. The end of link 28 being positioned near the upper end of slot 21!) will then be moved to the position shown in Figure 6 following a downward path described by the are D until it reaches the lower position indicated in dotted outline in Figure 6. In this instance, inasmuch as the lever arms 3| and 35 are positioned as shown in Figure 6, the link 28 will be longitudinallv advanced the amount indicated in such figure and labeled advance. Thus pivotal movement will be imparted to bell crank I9 and hence the vertical support 23 will be raised from its lowermost position shown in full outline in Figure 1 to its dotted position. It will be obvious that by selectively positioning lever 3| so that detent 32 engages any of the other notches 21a in quadrant 21 a slightly greater or lesser amount of raising of the vertical tool support 23 can be readily obtained and thus a greater or Hence there will Lever 3! is substantially lesser penetration of the earth working tools, not shown, can be readily provided.

The power lift unit 53 will always raise the front gang to the same height regardless of the positioning of the link 2S in the quadrant. This desirable feature is accomplished by virtue of the vertical position of slot 21h when the quadrant is rotated clockwise to its extreme forward position. Hence the maximumlift height of the gang will always be attained for clearance in transporting,

As an identical device but of opposite hand is provided on the other side of the tractor (not shown), its operation will, of course, be identical; hence description thereof is not believed necessary. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with a similar device on the opposite side of the tractor that the right or left hand front mountd implement gangs can be selectively raised or lowered and may be adjusted to work at the same or diiferent depths as may be desired.

It will, of course, be appreciated that upward rotary movement of lift arms I I will effect raising of the rear gang arms 6. Hence when the front gangs are raised the rear gang arms 6 will be raised simultaneously. When lever 3| is in its foremost position (Figure 2) the rear gang arm can be raised or lowered without affecting the front gangs which remain in their lifted position.

From the foregoing description it is clearly apparent there is here provided a simplified power lift for the tractor having power lifted rock arms which are effectively utilized to selectively raise and lower front mounted implement gangs which may be utilized for cultivating or other working of the soil. The numerous adjustments obtainable with this device thereby pro vides a versatile power lift for front mounted implements which permits such implements to be used in a variety of conditions and yet one which is simple yet positive in operation.

We claim:

For use with a tractor having a power actuated 5 lateral rock shaft including a rock arm, a first implement mounted on the tractor front end for vertical movement and a second implement mounted on the tractor rear end for vertical movement and connected to the rock arm, a power lift device comprising a quadrant secured to the end of the rock shaft, a manually operable lever pivotally secured to said quadrant member, said quadrant and said lever respectively having slots formed therein, said quadrant slot being so constructed and arranged as to intersect said lever slot throughout the range of angular movement of said lever, means for securing said lever arm in any one of the plurality of angular positions relative to saidquadrant, a link operatively connected at its one end to the first implement and at its other end in said slots at their point of intersection, whereby displacements of said link by said slot intersection vertically moves the first implement as the rock shaft is rotated, at least one of said angular positions of said lever pro ducing a path of movement for the intersection of said slots which is substantially equidistant from said first implement over the entire range of movement of said quadrant, thereby maintaining said first implement in a raised position while permitting vertical adjustment of said second implement.

JOHN H. BOIL. ARTHUR V. RAUGHT.

No references cited. 

